The room was quiet except for the movie's sound effects echoing through the space. Ronin and Thomas were completely absorbed in the film.
"Mr. Stark's acting is actually pretty good," Thomas said halfway through, finally daring to speak up. From start to finish, Stark's expressions and movements felt completely natural—like the role had been written just for him.
"Of course it is," Ronin replied. "This is basically Tony playing himself. He didn't have to change a thing. Just do what he normally does. Sure, some details feel a little forced and his movements are a bit over-the-top, but overall it's solid. He's not a professional actor, yet he holds his own against the pros. That's more than enough."
When Tony first appeared on screen wearing the clunky Mark I armor he built in the cave, Thomas let out a gasp of amazement. It was hard to believe anyone could cobble together a functional suit of armor from scrap metal while being held captive and watched by enemies. The suit looked crude and heavy compared to the sleek models Tony wore now, but under those terrible conditions, managing to build even the first version was nothing short of genius.
"Do you think Mr. Stark's real-life story was actually like this?" Thomas asked, spreading his hands in disbelief. "Building a suit out of weapons materials? Even a genius couldn't pull that off, right? I can't wrap my head around turning weapons parts into armor, especially with almost no tools or equipment—just his bare hands."
Ronin nodded. "Stark Industries became America's top weapons manufacturer thanks to that brain of his. Right now, there's no inventor in the world who can match Tony's creativity and talent."
His praise was high, but not exaggerated. The arc reactor alone proved how extraordinary Tony really was.
Thomas had already admired Mr. Stark, but hearing his boss speak so highly of him left Thomas in total awe. He felt like Stark might even be more impressive than Ronin himself.
The Mark I armor shrugged off enemy gunfire like it was nothing. The surface got scorched and blackened, but the internal systems stayed intact. Tony moved through the chaos like an iron giant, unstoppable.
Back at the company, Tony realized the terrifying power of the weapons his company had been selling. He announced he was getting out of the arms business entirely. That decision, of course, met fierce opposition from major shareholder Obadiah Stane. When Tony refused to back down, Obadiah made his move—ripping out the arc reactor and creating the Iron Monger.
In the end, Tony faced off against the Iron Monger in an epic battle that pushed everything to the limit.
Early on, Tony was clearly at a disadvantage. Thomas was on the edge of his seat, sweating for him. But in the final moments, Tony turned the tables using something he'd discovered earlier while flying high: icing. He had already upgraded the Mark II with a titanium alloy shell to prevent freezing at high altitudes. The Iron Monger hadn't accounted for that weakness, and Tony used it to win.
By defeating the Iron Monger, Tony stopped a disaster before it could spread. If the villain had won and gotten his hands on the arc reactor technology, his ambition would have led to mass-producing suits and selling them to governments or criminal organizations. That would have sparked a global catastrophe.
Tony had nipped that threat in the bud. He was also smart enough to refuse handing over the Mark series designs or arc reactor tech—even if the government demanded it. He knew that if any nation got hold of that power, their own ambitions would lead to endless conquest and another worldwide crisis. So Iron Man had to remain his alone.
When the final scene played—Tony at the press conference, struggling to keep up the lie before finally saying, "Actually… I am Iron Man"—every theater around the world erupted in thunderous cheers and applause.
Everyone was cheering for Iron Man.
The end credits rolled, but most audiences stayed glued to their seats. Those who tried to leave got pulled back by friends. Everyone was waiting for the post-credits scene—the little bonus that often teased the next movie.
As the last line of credits faded and the screen went black, the picture suddenly changed again. The audience's hearts jumped along with it.
The scene opened in a rundown bar. A rugged, white-haired man in a white tank top was slumped over the counter. Beside him, a pretty girl with a brown ponytail leaned against the bar, trying to talk some sense into him.
"We've talked about this so many times. You don't have to keep doing this. Winston's message wasn't meant for you. This isn't your fight anymore. My dad told me you gave everything to Overwatch for years, and in the end they kicked you out. Why go back?"
The camera cut to a close-up of the man's face. His left eye was damaged, with a jagged scar running down it that told stories of a painful past. His thick arms were covered in old wounds, and his bushy white beard made him look like an aging lion.
He stared deeply at the badge in his hand. Under the dim light, the badge gleamed brightly yet showed signs of wear.
The moment the audience saw it, theaters everywhere exploded with screams. They knew that symbol—it was Overwatch's logo. It looked a bit like a butt at first glance, but it was actually a stylized combination of the letters "O" and "W." The design cleverly fused them together, like two hands high-fiving to show teamwork, or an eye watching over the world from above, representing hope for the future.
After a brief black screen, the scene shifted to what looked like a grand palace or headquarters.
At the top of a set of stairs, a crusader in shining golden armor sat on a throne-like seat. A massive hammer leaned against the wall beside him, its faint glow hinting at past glory. On the other side, a pile of scrap metal lay scattered.
The white-haired man walked over and placed the Overwatch badge on the armrest. Then he turned, his eyes full of hope, and spoke to the girl with the ponytail in a deep, resonant voice.
"I've been called. I must answer… as I always have."
...